Chirali Patel, Founder of Blaze Law Firm LLC and Adjunct Professor at Rutgers – Interview Series

For every attorney and legal professional entering the significantly less litigated field of cannabis law, each has an interesting career path to discuss. For Chirali Patel, Founder of the New Jersey-based Blaze Law Firm LLC, her legal career previously included representing plaintiffs in major pieces of multi-district litigation, such as large class action lawsuits against some of the most colossal Fortune 500 companies. Along with managing the cannabis-focused law firm, Patel is also an adjunct professor at her undergrad alma mater of Rutgers University, teaching crucial courses in the Cannabis Law and Business certificate program.

What first interested you in studying law, and where did you study law? What fields of law were you initially interested in specializing in prior to attending law school?

It was my 4th grader teacher Mrs. M.D. who inspired me to be a lawyer. I was the student always questioning things and asking “why” and she would tell me research and read – back then looking things up in the encyclopedias. I also loved to argue my point so she joked one day that I should be a lawyer because I had the skill set needed. As I grew older, I had a desire to be in business, but felt having a law degree would be a solid foundation to have so I decided to pursue the path. I went to Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York. Prior to attending law school, I was interested in corporate law, environmental law, and litigation.

What lessons/subjects about practicing law, in particular, did you learn while attending the prestigious Cardozo School of Law? What subjects of civil procedure law would later become relevant as a cannabis attorney?

One of my favorite classes in law school was Negotiations. It taught me the importance of understanding the impetus behind why people made the decisions they do and how to recognize their motives to create a favorable outcome for all parties involved. You realize that in negotiations, personal or professional, both sides should feel like they gained a bit even if one didn’t. One of the most difficult classes I took was the Rights of Prisoners and Detainees taught by a very accomplished professor. I realized how nuanced the criminal justice system was and what rights individuals have once they’re in the system and the complexities of places like Guantanamo Bay. I enjoyed most of my classes, especially trademarks, copyrights and contracts – I was lucky to have great professors. Jurisdiction and diversity are concepts you learn about in civil procedure, and it comes up every now and then when dealing with cannabis matters more so when it comes to litigation.

What were your regular duties as the Assistant County Counsel for Bergen County? What were some common legal issues that the county departments sought counsel over?

I was the designated in-house counsel for the County Health Department, Parks Department, and the Personnel Department, in addition to providing legal counsel as needed by the Office of County Counsel. I would draft and review ordinances and approve resolutions pertaining to County matters; negotiate, draft, and review contracts, lease agreements, license agreements, and other documents related to County business and economic development. I also got to be involved in various projects ranging from the American Dream, a billion-dollar development to being involved in the National Opiate litigation settlement discussions in Washington D.C. Most of my departments would need guidance on contracts they’d be entering into or RFPs to be issued, with the occasional personnel matters.

Prior to cannabis law, what fields of law did you work in, and how did those types of law prepare you for working in this very new field of law that doesn’t have as many precedent-setting or otherwise historical cases?

My experience working in public service, particularly at the County of Bergen prepared me for being in cannabis. I learned how municipalities operate and the public application/meeting process which was very beneficial as municipal approval is a requirement to operate a cannabis business. I got to see how local politics worked and it was insightful to get that experience because you realize much how education is still needed not only in cannabis but in other industries. I also practiced class action and multi district litigation at a private law firm, one of 22 that handled the National Opiate litigation plaintiffs’ side among other prolific lawsuits. I got to work alongside brilliant legal minds and learn the ins and outs of litigation at the federal and state level. By having such a diverse experience and working on things I had never done before, it prepared me for the un-precedented world of cannabis in New Jersey – you learn how to problem solve and advocate.

How did an experienced lawyer like yourself get involved in specializing in cannabis law and eventually starting your own law firm? What would you say were some factors or influences that led you to that decision?

I always had a love for the plant, but prior to legalization I wasn’t thinking of it seriously. I did make a visit out to Colorado and was amazed by the industry and came back wanting to get involved. At the time (end of 2016/Jan 2017) there wasn’t much going on in New Jersey, so I would attend events in New York and network. One day I was hanging out with my friend, Haris, who’s an angel above now, and he said I’d be part of getting weed legal and we laughed. In August of 2018 he passed and later that year, my aunt, Prapti, who I had a special bond with also passed. While she was going through her chemo, we would medicate her with cannabis oils and edibles. It was after these losses that I decided to take my passion and turn it into something meaningful.

I reached out to the executive director of the ACLU-NJ and asked if there was anything I could do to help with legalization. Turns out they were working on a ballot initiative, and he said yes, I could help get the vote out particularly amongst South Asian voters and so I become the unofficial “South Asian liaison.” My work started with advocacy and educating those around me and within my community about cannabis as plant medicine and why it needed to be legal and accessible. Eventually I got into working on cannabis licenses and applications and after building up a practice area for a law firm, I decided to venture on my own and make that dream of having my own business come true. There were other factors at the time that led to me starting my practice sooner than expected. I no longer wanted to be undervalued and underpaid. I knew my worth and what I was capable of, so, I decided to bet on myself and take the risk.

How does practicing cannabis law differ from practicing other fields of law? What are some cannabis law-specific issues that your clients in this industry face that previous clients in other industries don’t have to endure nearly as much?

It differs in that there’s not much case law or precedent to go off and the regulations are not nearly as robust as they should be. You’re left reading between the lines for the most part and crafting solutions. The level of back door politics my clients have had to deal with is something I didn’t see as much in other industries. It’s shocking some of the things local officials get away with and without much accountability or enforcement, it sadly becomes a norm to a degree. There’s so much discretion given to municipalities that even the most qualified applicants can lose out to local preference. There is still a major gap in education and communication between agencies, so it doesn’t make the job any easier.

How influential were you in the legalization of cannabis in New Jersey, and how did your profession as a lawyer change when cannabis was recreationally legalized?

I was one of many individuals who were involved in the legalization of cannabis. I played a small but pivotal role in my opinion because if we didn’t get the vote out, the ballot measure wouldn’t have been as successful. Once cannabis was legalized, my days flew by like a blur. I was attending and speaking at events, writing articles, engaging new clients, reading regulations, etc. It still hasn’t slowed down, which is a blessing, but I have boundaries now and I am learning my new balance because the work truly never ends when you love what you do.

What led to the formation of Blaze Responsibly, and what are the group’s objectives? How do you believe that Blaze Responsibly strengthens the New Jersey cannabis industry?

Before legalization I was writing a business plan for my future retail space/consumption lounge and after typing out the privacy policy, I wrote down the words “Blaze Responsibly.” I stared at the words for a while and I called my husband over and said check this out, he said “you should trademark that it sounds like a good slogan.”

After sitting on it for a while, I formed the company to share information and education post legalization. I wanted it to be a source of knowledge for the community in New Jersey. I would create posts like, what are my rights as an employee, my rights as a pregnant woman or now that it’s legal where can I blaze responsibly? People started to engage with it and then I did a collab with Cookies Social Impact where I taught a virtual weekend bootcamp that had 200 participants on how to get into the legal industry and all about cannabis in New Jersey and the history of legalization.

I continued with the educational side of things and decided to also embark on expungements and providing free services for the community. Now, thanks to partnerships with companies such as Ascend, Ayr, GTI and Wana Brands Foundation, we’ve been hosting expungement events throughout the State going on 3 years now.

These events not only help individuals clear their arrest records for free, but we have wrap-around services on site thanks to my friends at the UFCW360 who do job placement or Coalition for Food and Health Equity that provides free meal services. It’s become a way to give back to those who suffered harm during the war on drugs, cannabis related or not. The company stands for responsible practices, education and consumption, and bridging the gap between MSO and community in a meaningful way. I know it’s strengthened the industry because operators have a way of reinvesting in the local communities and the residents get a service that they otherwise wouldn’t have had access to for free.

The type of education and experience we provide is unparallel given experience in the industry and background and access to the network and resources I’ve developed over the years. I don’t want to do a disservice to people so it’s always about creating the right environment and providing credible information so they can make better informed decisions on whether they want to apply for a license or Blaze Responsibly™.

How would a federal rescheduling from Schedule I to III change the operations of both your cannabis clients and your own role as an attorney to cannabis businesses? How would cannabis law as a whole change with a major reform on the federal level?

Federal rescheduling will have a significant impact, but how much and when remains unknown. The exact regulations to be enacted will dictate to a degree, but you have to be in a position to pivot so I’m prepared and do my best to guide my clients accordingly so they’re planning and strategizing early on. Legalization can lead to interstate commerce which opens the floodgates to the market and shifts the economic scales of the markets that are currently in silos. It’ll be a game changer on many levels, and provide access to capital, banking and so much more that is needed by applicants and operators. Decriminalization is also necessary as a part of federal reform and it’ll lead to changes to the criminal justice system that is long overdue.

Thank you for joining us, Chirali! For more information on Blaze Law Firm LLC, please visit its website.